Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-13


of the vehicle and shout to The cavaicade.
Once she said to Mrs. Grant in her trans
ports: 81 suppose you think you'll get to
the White House yourself, don't yOu?"
Mrs. Grant was very calm and dignified,
and merely replied that she was quite
satisfied with her present position; it was
far greater than she had ever expected to
attain. Then Mrs. Lincoln exclaimed:
ION! you had better take it if you can
get it. IT'S very nice" Then she re-
turned to Mrs. Ord, but Mrs. Grant de-
tended her friend at the risk of arousing
greater vehemence.
Once when there was a halls, Maj. Sew
ard, nephew of the Secretary of State
and an officer of Gen. Ord's staff, rode up,
and trying TO say something jocular, re-
marked: 1.-The Presidents horse is very
gallant, Mrs. Lincoln; he insists ON riding
by the side OF Mrs. Ord" This of course
added fuel to the flame. What do you
mean by that, sir?" she cried. Seward
discovered That he had made huge mis-
take, and his horse at once developed a
popularity that com pelled him to ride be-
mind, to get out OF the way of the storm.
Finally the party arrived at its destina-
ton, ana Mrs. Ora came up TO the ambu-
lance. Then Ms. Lincoln positively in
suited her, called her vile names in the
presence of crowd OF officers, and asked
what she meant by following up the Pres
ldent. The poor woman burst into tears
and inquired what she had done, but Mrs.
Lincoln refused to be appeased, and
stormed till she was tired. Mrs. Grant
still tried 10 stand by her friend. and
everybody was shocked ard Mortified.
But all things come to an end, and after q
while we returned to City Point.
HOW LINCOLN BORE THE HUMILIATION
That night the President aud Mrs. Lin
coin entertained Gen. and Mrs. Grant and
the Generals staff aC dinner on the
steamer, and before us all Mrs. Lincoln
berated Gen. Ord to the President and
urged that he should be removed. He
was unfit for his place, she said, to say
nothing of his wife. Gen. Grant sat next
and defended his officer bravely. OF
course Gen. Ord was not removed.
During all this visit similar scenes
were occurring. Mrs. Lincoln repeatedly
attacked her husband in the presence OF
officers because OF these two ladies', and
never suffered greater humiliation and
pain on account OF one not near per-
sonal friend than when saw the head of
the State-the man who carried all the
cares OF the nation at sucp crlsls-suD-
lected to this indispensable public morti-
hcation. He bore it as Christ might have
done, with an expression of pain and sad
ness that cut one to the heart, but with
81 ~ oiuS CdluuebS anu ui8DlIV. he
called her mother" with mis- O!d.time
plaInness; he pleaded with eyes and tones,
ana eudeayored TO explain or palliate the
otenses Of Others, tlll she turned on him
ike tIgress, and then he walked away,
hiding that noble, ugly face that we might
not catch the h1l expression OF its misery.
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. COURTESY.
Gen. SHERMAN Was a witness of some of
these episodes, aud mentioned them in his
memoirs mang years ago. Capt. Barnes,
OF tue navy. ~ as a witness and sufferer
too. Barnes had accompanied Mrs. Ord
on her unfortunate ride and refused after
ward tosay that the lady was to blame.
Mrs. Lincoln never forgave him. A day
or Two alter ward he went to speak to the
President on some official matter when
Mrs. lincoln and several others were
present. The Presidents wife said some-
thing to him unusually offensive that all
the company oltd hear. Lincoln was
silent, but after a moment he went up to
the young officer sud taking him by the
arm led him into his own cabin, TO show
him map or a paper, he said. He made
no remark, Barnes told me, upon what
had occurred. He could not rebuke his
wife, but he showed his regret and regard
for the officer with touch of what SEEM
edsto me the most exquisite breeding i'm
agInable.
Shortly before these occurrences Mrs.
Stanton had visited City Point aud |
CHANGED to ask her some question about
the Presidents wife. II do not visit
Mrs. Lincoln" was the reply. | thought
| must have been mistaken. The wife of
the Secretary OF War must visit the wife
OF the President, and | renewed my In
quiry. understand me, sIr,' she re-
peated; 81 do not go to the White House;
| do not visit Mrs. Lincoln" was not
intimate with her at the time, nor indeed
ever, and this remark was 50 eXLraordin-
airy that l never forgot it, but l under
stood it aiterward.
MRS. LINCOLN REBUKES MRS. GRANT,
Mrs. Lincoln continued her conduct
toward Mrs. Grant, VINO sJrOve to pla-
cate ner, and then Mrs. Lincoln became
more outrageous still. She once rebuksd
Mrs. Grant for sitting in her presence.
" How dare you he seated" she said, ''un-
til | invite youW Altogether it was a
hateful experience at that tremendous
crisis in the nations history, Tor ali this
was just before the army started on its
last campaign.
But the war ended and the President
and Mrs. Lincoln had returned to Wash.
ington when Gen. Grant arrived from
AppOmattoX, bringing Mrs. Grant with
hun. Two nights afterward both Gen.
hhu M Zoe vi Aht, anu bu6 C6SItldT1 Oh w at
and Mrs. Stanton, were invited to accom-
pany the President and Mrs. Lincoln 10
the play. No answer mad yet been sent
when Mrs. Stanton called on Mrs. Grant
to inquire II she intended to be one of the
party, for" said Mrs. Stanton, "unless
you accept the invitation, shall refuse |
1 Will not sit without you IN the box with
Mrs. Lincoln" Mrs. Grant also was tired
out with what she had endured, and de- |
cded not to 20 to the play, little dreaming
of the terrible experience she was thus
escaping. She determined to 20 that |
night to Burlington, in New Jersey, |
wnere her children were at school, and
asked the General TO accompany her. She !
sent note OF apology to Mrs. Lincoln, !
and Mrs. Stanton also declined the inyl- !
tatiOn. Toey may both thus nave saved !
tneir husbands lives.
HER GROWING ECCENTRICITIEs.
After the murder of the Pres ldent the !
OF Mrs. Lincoln became
more apparent tnan ever, and people be- |
gan to wonder whether her mind had not |
been affected by her bic misfortune. !
MIR, seward told me that she sold the |
shirts, with his initials marked |
on them, before she left the White House. |
and that learning the linen was for sa .e |
NJ shop in Pennsylvania avenue he sent |
and bought II privately. She fingered at |
the Executive mansion a long while after
all arrangements should have been made |
Tor her departure, keeping the new Pres- |
4a.,Nn NNN .ef !. "a